Device for burning vaporous or gaseous fuel



WI. M. GILLAM.

DEVICE FOR BURNING VAPOROUS 0R GASEOUS FUEL.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. 1921.

L3Q7 UUSQ Patented 1 T0\7.'1l5 1921a liJ VE IV TOR I MANLY GI LLAM, 01E FLUSHING, NEW YURK.

DEVICE FOR BURNING VAPOR/GUS OR GASEOUS FUEL;

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, MANLY M. GILLAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flushing, Long Island, in the county of Queens, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Burning Vaporous or Gaseous Fuel, of which the following is a specification.

In the practical use of the device described in my Patent No. 1,311,443, for improved means for burning liquid fuels for heating,

.cooking and power purposes, dated July 29,

1919, I find that petroleum, ora petroleum product such as kerosene. for instance, is more effectively vaporized by contact with water vapor, or steam, and that the resulting product is more economically burned than when such vaporizing is accomplished by the application of the direct heat of a container. I have also demonstrated that when vaporized in superheated steam there is 'no deposit of carbon from any petroleum distillate.

My present invention has relation to so changing and modifying my said device as to adapt it to the controllable use of water vapor, or steam, as a means for vaporizing said liquid fuel. To do this I provide a water vapor making element as part of my said device and arrange for superheating the said water vapor and for bringing into it at the proper point the liquid fuel that is to be vaporized. I also adapt my. burners to the new requirements.

The nature and scope of my present invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in. which Figure 1, is a view in perspective of my complete invention, except that a portion of one side wall and of the base is broken away to show that they are hollow that but one of the two identical float valves is shown, and that partially in section.

Fig-2 is a cross sectional view in detailof the entire .device except that the float valve is not shown and the auxiliary burner is not shown in detail.

Fig. 3 is a detailed cross sectional view of the auxiliary burner.

Referring to the drawings, A representsthe hollow air intake base on which the de vice rests, B represents the hollow sides by Specification of Letters Patent.

I represent the Patented Nov. 15, 1921,

Application filed January 11, 1921. Serial Nb. 436,616.

which air passes to C to be delivered through the neck 0 to the main burner H, L represents the priming panor preheater, E and boiler and the steam superheater respectively, the connection between them being shown by e f represents a pipe leading from F to a point below E, then, after a circular sweep, proceeding centrally upward throu h E and F to the expansion chamber G. he portion of the pipe directly over the auxiliary burner I is the retort proper and the pipe f connecting the retort portion with the superheater is adapt- I ed to supply steam to the retort portion. The pipe leading from the retort upward through the center of the superheater to the expansion chamber G serves to supply the main burner H with fuel gas. g represents a pipe leading from G to the interior of H, where, by means of the valves h and h, it operatively connects with either of the perforated annular pipes h or it, It represents foraminous walls on'each side of and extending upwardly from the said perforated annular pipes, it represents spreader plates, if represents a spreader plate at the air intake of H, 9' represents a branch pipe leading from G to the auxiliary burner I, f and 7 represent the intake pipe and controlling valve for liquid fuel, while 6 and e represent the intake pipe and controlling valve for water, 2' represents the outer wall of the auxiliary burner, 5/ represents a perforated annular pipe terminating the pipe g, and 9 represents a valve in said pipe,-z" and 6 represent foraminous walls projecting upwardly on each sideof g, i represents an air intake opening, and 2' shows a spreader plate, q represents a supply pipe leading from and 9 indicates the valve controlling it, j represents the float in the float valve J, J represents the pin controlling the flow of liquid into J, 7' represents the passage for liquid into J, and 7 represents a pipe in siphon shape connecting 7' with the liquid supply pipe 7. Some other reference marks will be explained when describing the practical operation of my invention, in the form preferred by me, which is as follows:

Some quick burning fluid, like illuminating gas or alcohol, is burned below the boiler E. If this fluid is gas it is burned from perforations in a pipe with annular discharge pan L. Before ignitingthe priming fluid, water, in small quantity, is admitted to the said boiler by the tap c in the supply pipe 6 As water vapor or steam is developed it passes by the neck 6 into the superheatin;- chamber F where it is raised to a high temperature and whence it passes by the pipe 7'' downwardly till a'point below the bottom of the'boiler E is reached, where the said carrying pipe swings circularly, but with a descending gradient, this portion constituting the retort proper) above the auxiliary burner I and through the heated area above the said preheater, then passes upwardly and centrally through openings in the said boiler and the said superheating chamber to the expansion chamber G, where the said superheated steam is discharged. From the said expansion chamber the said steam may be admitted to the main burner H by the pipe and discharged into the perforated annular pipe 71/ through the branch h by turning the valve 71 or into the perforated annular pipe 72 through-the branch pipe 71 by turning the valve it, or into both of said pipes at thewill of the operator. From the said expansion chamber the said steam may be carried to the main burner by the pipe g by opening the valve 9 near where it passes into the perforated annular ring i When it is evident from turning either of the valves 7?, it or 9 that a considerable pressure of superheated steam existsin the said expansion chamber, liquid fuel is admitted to the column of descending superheated steam by the valve 7' in the supply pipe This liquid fuel. if a distillate of petroleum, is quickly vaporized by contact with the said superheated steam as it passes downward to the retort. The vapor of the said liquid fuel and the said water vapor, or steam, unite to form a remarkably stable gaseous compound under the high degree of heat to which they are exposed in the retort and this said gaseous compound passes upwardly to the said expansion chamber where it replaces the said superheated steam and may be delivered at the will of the operator either to be burned in the said superior burner cap, or in the said main burner, or in both. That portion of said gaseous compound delivered to the said auxiliary burner is discharged between laterally encircling foraminous walls, 71 and 2' through which said foraminous walls and the opening 1 atmospheric air is admitted for mixture with the said gaseous compound which is then burned in outwardly projecting volume below the peripheral edge of the spreader plate i The space between the inner foraminous wall i and the inclosing foraminous wall i opens into the hollow base of the said auxiliary burner, and atmospheric air also has access to the outside of the inclosing foraminous wall 11 by the space within the inclosing wall 11. Through the and C atmospheric air, highly heated,

Or unvaporizable matter.

hollow base A and the hollow side walls B is delivered to the said main burner by the neck 0', where through the foraminous walls 71, it unites with the said gaseous compound as delivered from the said perforations in the i said annular pipes, furnishing the oxygen for burning it in the peripheral openings be low the spreadenplates h. The spreader plate 71, near the said atmospheric air inlet to the said main burner, is to force the incoming current of air to spread laterally. The float valve'J, under liquid pressure, by means of the float j, operates the pin 9' to close the aperture j against the flow into the reservoir, j", of any additional liquid and it also closes the aperture leading from j to the siphon shaped pipe f, the said siphon shaped pipe operatin to asslst in regulating the flow of liquid by its connection with the pipe Pleading from the said float valve and exerting a stabilizing effect on the said liquid flow in the face of any back pressure.

Any residuum or depositleft after vaporizing a liquid fuel will gather at and near the lowest point in the retort, in aposition to flow out by gravity or to be blown out by the pressure of the vaporous contents of said pipe when the tap 7, is opened. In vaporizing a liquid fuel that still contains a parafiin or asphaltum base I prefer to enlarge the pipe 7" at and near its lowest point to give space for an accumulation of refractory The circular form of the boiler, superheater and expansion chamber preferred by me avoids cold corners and turns and concentrates vital features of the device in and above the area of greatest heat from the auxiliary burner. My preferred method of nesting the superheater partially within the boiler yet with a heat passage all around it. and 'the perpendicular central opening through both boiler and superheater permit a compactness of design that isvery desirable as well as of great effectiveness .in

utilizing heat. By introducing liquid fuel into a conduit inclosing a practically perpendicular descending volume of superheated steam that continues by an extended course into and around the area of greatest heat created by the auxiliary burner I insure its quick and certain vaporization, any unvaporizable residue being easily and quickly removable by the tap in the lowest part of the retort. The sharp upward turn and the extended upward course of this con-, duit' from its lowestpoint gives assurance that only a gaseous substance will reach the expansion chamber through it.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. In a device for vaporizing and burn memos ing liquid fuel a steam boiler, a preheater and inferior burner cap below the boiler,-a steam superheater connected with the boiler, a conduit for carrying the superheated steam downwardly, means for controllably admitting liquid fuel into the'descendingsupet-heated steam in the conduit, a continuation of the conduit to a point below the boiler then upwardly through central open-,

above the said expansion chamber, conduits to controllably-carry a portion of said gaseous compound to be burned in the said inferior burner cap and the remalnder to be burned in the said superior burner cap, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In a device for vaporizing and burning liquid fuel a steam boiler, a preheater and an inferior -burner below the boiler, a steam superheater connected with the boiler and partly or wholly nested within it, space between the boiler and the steam superheater for the passage of heat, a conduit for carrying the superheated steam downwardly, means for admitting liquid fuel in controllable quantity into the descending volume of superheated steam in the conduit, a

continuation of the conduit to a point below the boiler, thence proceeding with a. radial sweep but with a descending gradient around and above the preheater and the inferior burner and then centrally upward through openings in the boiler and in the superheater to an expansion chamber into which the gaseous compound resulting from a union of elements of the superheated steam and of the liquid fuel vapor is discharged, a superior burner cap above the said expansion chamber, conduits to carry the said gaseous compound, a portion to be burned in the said inferior burner and the remainder to be burned in the said superior burner, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a device for vaporizing and burning liquid fuel, a boiler for producing steam, priming means and an inferior b'urner, below said boiler, a steam superheater connected with said boiler, a conduit to carry the superheated steam downwardly to a point below thesaid boiler, means for controllably" admitting liquid fuel to. the volume of superheated steam in said conduit, a tap at the lowest point of said conduit, a continuation of said conduit upwardly to an expansion chamber in which the gaseous compound resulting from a union of the superheated steam and the liquid fuel vapor is discharged, means for conducting a portion of said gaseous compound to the said inferior burner and there mixing it with atmospheric air and burning it peripherally below a spreader plate of said inferior burner, a superior burner detachably joined to a hollow neck connected with a plurality of supporting detac hed hollow members resting on the hollow base of the entire device, the portion of said gaseous compound not delivered to the said inferior burner being controllably admitted to said superior burner, mixed with atmospheric air highly heated by having passed through the said supporting hollow members and the said neck and burned peripherally below spreader plates, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In a device for vaporizing and burning liquid fuel a superior burner cap with an inlet at the bottom of the cap for atmospheric air and another inlet for a combus-' tible fluid mixture, a spreader plate over the air inlet, a pipe, or pipes, controllably connecting the combustible fluid inlet with one or more annular, conduits with discharge perforations between foraminous Walls, said foraminous walls admitting atmospheric air to mingle with the said discharged combustible fluid mixture, thereby supplying the needed oxygen to support its combustion, a spreader plate above each annular conduit and its encircling foraininous walls beneath the peripheral edge of which the said combustible fluid mixture is burned, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a device for vaporizing and burning liquid fuel a float valve, a siphon attachment connecting the intake conduit and the outlet conduit of said float valve, pin attached to the float of said float Vai ve adapted to either close or open at the same time the discharge opening of said intake conduit and the intake opening of said siphon attachment in such position that when open the fiow of liquid covers the intake opening of said siphon attachment permitting siphon action through it, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. A device for generating and utilizing fuel gas, having upper and lower orifices constituting, respectively, main and auxiliary burners, a steam boiler and superheater exposed to the flame of the auxiliary burner, a descending tubular retort connected at its inlet end to the superheater and at its outlet end adapted through piping means, to furnish a gaseous fuel supply to the main burner, a branch pipe connecting the main burner supply with the auxiliary burner and a liquid hydrocarbon supply pipe connected to the inlet of the retort.

7. A device for generating and utilizing fuel gas, having upper and lower orifices said perforated constituting respectively main and auxiliary ers and both exposed to the flame of the auxiliary burner, an expansion chamber disposed below the main burner and connected a descending tubular retort exposed to the flame of the auxiliary burner and connected at its inlet end to the superheater and at its outlet end with the expansion chamber, a valve controlled branch pipe connecting the expansion chamber with the auxiliary] burner and a valve controlled liquid hydrocarbon supply pipe connected to the inlet of the retort.

8. A fuel gas generator and burner comprising main and auxiliary burners, the main burner being disposed above the auxiliary burner, an annular shaped steam boiler and an annular shaped superheater arranged between the burners and concentrically disposed in reference to each other and to a line central to the burners, a tubular retort located beneath the steam boiler and above the auxiliary burner, pipes connecting the retort with the superheater and with the main burner, a pipe adapted to feed liquid hydrocarbon into the steam entering the retort from by piping therewith,

the superheater and abranch pipe adapted to supply the-auxiliary burner with i[glas from the main burner supply.

9. device for generating and utilizing fuel gas, compris ng an auxiliary burner and a main burner located above the same, a steam boiler and a superheater connected together and exposed to the flame of the auxiliary burner, an expansion chamber located beneath the main burner and connected therewith, a tubular retort exposed to the flame of the auxiliary burner and connected to both the superheater and to the expansion chamber, .a pipe for supplying liquid hydrocarbon to the steam entering the retort, a branch pipe connectin the expansion chamb'er and the auxiliary burner and a conduit partially surrounding the steam boiler and the auxiliary burner and adapted to supply heated air to the main burner.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my signature in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

MANLY M. GILLAM.

Witnesses:

RALPH 'Aa'rnnn L.

LYDY

GILLAM. 

